Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers. His parents were Jerry and Mallie Robinson who both had jobs. Jackie Robinson became the 1st African American to play baseball. On October 24, 1972, he died of a heart attack at 53 years of age. The 2011 Jackie Robinson Foundation Annual Awards Dinner was held yesterday on March 7th at New York's Waldorf=Astoria Hotel.